Carbondale Reporter

House Republicans in Illinois have raised concerns about a potential energy cost crisis this summer. During a Capitol news conference, members of the House Energy & Environment and Public Utilities Committees highlighted the results of the recent Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) capacity auction, which showed a significant price increase to $666.50 per Megawatt-day compared to last year's $30.

State Representative Dave Severin from Benton, who serves as the House Republican ranking member on the House Energy & Environment Committee, attributed these spikes to Illinois' current energy policies. "House Republicans are concerned for the financial future of our constituents and our businesses," Severin stated. He emphasized that there is insufficient energy production capacity and criticized restrictions on coal, oil, and natural gas industries.

Representative Brad Halbrook from Shelbyville also pointed to the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) as a cause for these issues. He compared Illinois' situation with Spain's energy crisis, warning against ignoring fundamental energy needs. "We’re facing increasing costs, decreasing reliability, and growing dependence on imported energy," Halbrook noted.

C.D. Davidsmeyer from Murrayville discussed how CEJA has impacted power generation capacity in Illinois since its passage in 2021. He mentioned that under current law, all electricity must come from zero-emission sources by 2045. "We have literally tied our hands and turned our backs on abundant Illinois coal," he said.

Davidsmeyer further explained that Ameren Illinois customers would face increased prices due to higher capacity charges this summer. The supply price will rise by roughly 50%, leading to an estimated total bill increase of 18% to 22% for residential customers.

The House Republicans have proposed several bills aimed at rolling back CEJA provisions:

- HB 4050: Restores previous greenhouse gas provisions.

- HB 1544: Extends deadlines by five years for certain emissions reductions.

- HB 1545: Extends deadlines by ten years for specific emission targets.

- HB 1546: Extends deadlines by five years for coal-fueled units.

- HB 1547: Extends emission reduction deadlines by ten years for certain units.

These legislative efforts aim to address what they view as detrimental impacts of current state policies on energy production and costs.